Strap stretching and sealing device



w. c. CHILDREss l 2,097,945

STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Nov. 2, 1937.

Original Filed Feb. lO, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 2, 1937. w CWLDRESS 2,097,945

STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll-l 'E' nia-,F

man@ C. Mess 1w@ wm W.

Nov. 2, 1937. w. c. CHILDREss 2,097,945

STRAP STRETCHING AND SEALING DEVICE Original Filed Feb. l0, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED, STATES lParrain or-Ficisz i i srasr srnnrcnnr'nazr; ssamm nnvrcn william c. children,

Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, lli., a corporation oi' Illinois Application February 10, 1932. Renewed Seriasl No. 592,050

February 25, 19 i 13 Claims. (Cl. 81-9.1)

This invention relates to improvements ln strap stretching and sealing devices and its purpose is to provide an improved device for drawing a metal strap or binder taut around a package or group of packages and then uniting the ends oi' the strap or binder 4by forming an improved in- Imeans for first terlocking joint. The principal object of the invention is to provide a device for forming an interlocking seal or joint between the overlapping ends of the strap or binder without. the use of any auxiliary seal or fastening device. A further object is to provide an improved tool having drawing taut a metal strap or binder around a package or group of packages and then cutting of supply, and ilnally securing the ends of the strap together by crimping or shearing them to form an interlocking Joint. A further object of the invention is to provide a device having improved means for stretching or drawing taut a metal binder passed around a package or group of packages. Still another object of the invention is to provide a device having improved means for operating upon the overlapping ends of a strap to cause these parts of the strap to have an interlocking engagement with each other. A further object of the invention is to provide a device having a single operating member adapted by its initial movement to cut off the strap from the source of supply and by the further movement thereof to cause the operation of members which deform the overlapping ends of the strap to form an interlocking joint.' A further object of the invention is to provide a strap stretching device having improved means by which a predetermined tension may be obtained in the strap or binder when it is drawn taut. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understoodv from the following specication taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated.

oir the strap from the source' that of Fig. 14

the

termediate plates Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the joint illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a bottom planV view of the joint illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 5-5 oi` Fig. 2;

Fig. 6-shows an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 6 8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged top plan view of the strap stretching and sealing device of the present invention with parts thereof broken away;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows an enlarged front elevation of the strap stretching and sealing device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section taken on the line IU-IU of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section taken on the line lI-Iiof Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail vertical section taken on the line |2-I2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken on the line II- of Fig. 15:

'Fig. .14 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line I4|4 of Fig. 7 showing the position of the cutting blade or die and of the strap crimping jaws preliminary to their engagement with the straps;

Fig. 15 is a partial`vertical section similar to showing the relative positionsof parts after the strap has been cut off from source of supply by the cutting die and after crimping jaws have been brought into engagement with the straps;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the positions of the jaws after they have been brought into final engagement with the overlapping strap ends;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on the line I'l-I'l of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line i8-i8 of Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of one of the inof the crimping jaws.

It is common practice to employ fiat flexible steel straps or other binders for reinforcing boxes or packages and also for binding together groups of packages to form load units, and the present invention is adapted for use in drawing taut the strap or binder after it has been passed around the package or group of packages and for cutting off the strap from the source of s'upply and subsequently crimping and also, preferably, shearing the overlapping strap ends in order to form an the the interlocking joint. As shown in Fig. 1, the strap stretching and sealing device I8 is shown applied to the upper surface of a box or crate II, such as a box adapted to contain apples or the like, and the walls of this box are reinforced by two fiat flexible steel straps or binders I2 which are passed around the box with the device III in position to engage one of these straps.

The device I8 comprises a base plate I5 which is adapted to rest upon the surface of the box or package and which carries the operating part by which the strap is rst stretched, then cut off from the source of supply and finally crimped or otherwise deformed to form an interlocking joint between the ends of the strap. The base plate I5 is provided with a forwardly extending ange I6, spaced slightly above the surface of the box, which is adapted to receive on its upper side the free end I2 of the strap I2. Adjacent to the iiange I6, the base plate carries an upwardly extending blcck or lug I1 which serves as a support for a gripping dog or detent I8 having a lower serrated or roughened part I8il which is adapted to coact with the upper side of the strap I2 to hold the strap firmly in engagement with the flange I6. The gripping dog I8 is rotatably mounted upon a pin or shaft 2lil which is fixed in the block I1 by means of a set screw 2I. The pin or shaft 20 is provided with a relatively fixed handle 22 which serves as a handle for the detent I8 so that the latter may be moved out of engagement with the upper side of the strap against the compression of a coil spring 23 which is mounted in a recess in the detent and which engages at its upper end a plug 24 mounted in an aperture in the upper flange I1 of the lug or block I1. This spring thus normally serves to maintain the dependent engagement with the strap and the serrated portion I8 of the detent is displaced laterally from the pivotal axis of the detent, as shown in Fig. 9, so that a pull upon the strap I2 toward the left as viewed in that figure tends to increase the grip of the gripping dog and ange upon the strap, while a movement of the strap in the other direction tends to effect an automatic release of the strap from the gripping dog. After having the free end I 2B of the strap passed into gripping engagement with the dog I8; the strap is passed around the box or package II and the supply portion I2b of the strap is then carried over the free end I2 and passed into engagement with a slot I8b which is formed in the side of the gripping dog I8 as shown particularly in Figs. 9 and 1l. For the purpose of maintaining the supply end of the stra-p in engagement with this slot, the recess in which the spring 23 is mounted is provided at its lower end with a movable ball 25 adapted to project through a tapered aperture in the lower end of the recess so that it is held by the spring 23 in engagement with the lower wall of the slot I8b to hold the strap in the slot while permitting the ready insertion or withdrawal of the strap when desired. l

For the purpose of stretching the strap I2 around the package, the supply portion I2b thereof is engaged by another gripping dog 28 which is carried by a block 21 mounted upon the outer end of a slidably mounted bar 28 carried by a plate I5. This bar is adapted to move parallel to the strap which is held by the gripping dog 26 against a flange 21a which projects forwardly from the block 21. The block 21 is secured to the bar 28 by a stud 29 and it carries a fixed pin or axle 30 upon which the gripping dog 26 is pivacc'neet otally mounted. The upper edge of the gripping dog is curved to coact with the curved flange 2lb of the block. This flange is concentric with the pin 36 so that the gripping dog is supported independently of the pin. The other end of the gripping dog is provided with a serrated surface 26P- which coacts with the upper side of the strap I2 and forces it against the flange 21a under the influence of a coil spring 3| which engages a socket in the gripping dog and coacts with a ange 21c carried by the block 21. The gripping dog 26 is inclined toward the left as viewed in Fig. 9 so that a pull uponthe strap I2b toward the right will tend toirrcrease the grip of the dog upon the strap while movement of the strap in the other direction will'tend to effect an automatic release of the strap from the gripping dog.

With the block 21 and the gripping dog 26 mounted as above described it will be apparent that movement of these members' with the bar 28 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 9, will draw the strap I2 taut around the box or lpackage II, The base plate I5 is provided on its upper side with a groove 32, of rectangular cross section, in which the bar 28 is adapted to slide and the base plate is also provided with a recess 33 which is adapted to be engaged by the underside of the block 21, as shown in Fig. 12, during the sliding movement of the bar 28. The bar is maintained in the groove 32 by means of the retaining members 34 which are secured to the base plate by screws 35, as shown in Fig. 1. The sliding movement of the bar 28 is effected by certain operating mechanism comprising a link 31 which extends between two ears 38 carried by one of the members 34, as shown in Fig. 10 and is secured thereto by means of a pivot pin or rivet 39. This link 31 has its other end pivotally connected at 40 with a shifting link 4I which has its forward end inserted between the bar 28 and the reversely bent portion 28 thereof, as shown in Fig. 10, being pivotally connected thereto by means of the pin 42. The pin 48 carried by the link 31 thus provides a movable fulcrum about which the lever 4I is adapted to pivot in effecting a sliding movement of the bar 28 and this pivotal movement of the lever 4I is effected through the connections which are shown particularly in Figs. 14 and l5. The rear end of the lever 4I carries an upwardly extending pin 43 provided with a. spherical head 43B. This pin is adapted to be inserted through a key-hole slot 44 formed in the wall of a hollow link 45 and the head 43a is engaged within the hollow link by a coil spring 46, the compression of which may be adjusted by a plug 41 which threadedly engages the end of the link to coact with the end of the spring. The other end of the hollow link 45 is provided with another key-hole slot 48 to receive the head 59a and the neck of a nin 49 which is secured to the short arm 59t of the strap stretching lever 50, the long arrn of which extends upwardly as shown in Fig. 9 with a. handle 5I)b at the upper end thereof for engagement by the hand of the operator. The lever 50 is fixed upon a shaft 5I which is journaled in bushings 52 secured by set screws 52n within the spaced bearing members 53 and 54 mounted on or formed integrally with the base plate I5, as shown in Fig. '1. When the lever 5I) is moved rearwardly, or toward the left as viewed in Fig. 14, the hollow link 45 is carried forwardly and this causes the spring 46 to move the pin 43 and thus actuate the lever 4I in a forward direction, causing the latter lever to rock about the pin 40 so that it moves bodily from the position shown by full l il the lever 1I is in its the position shown by dotted lines in that gure. This results in shifting the bar 28 toward the left as viewed in Figs. 7 and 9 so that the strap I2 is thereby drawn taut. When a predetermined degree of tautness is obtained in the strap I2, the continued movement of the lever 50 will merely serve to compress the spring v46 within the hollow link 45. During this movement of the operating lever 4I, the rear endof lthat lever is maintained in position adjacent to the base I5 by a plate 55 which is secured by screws 56 to a ledge 51 formed on the base I5, with a part of the plate overlying a portion of the lever 4I, as shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8. The strap stretching mechanism described above is claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 708,986, led January 30, 1934, now issued as Patent Number 2,097,444, dated November 2, 1937.

After the strap has been drawn taut in the manner described above, the end portion I2b thereof is cut 01T from the source of supply and the overlapping ends of the strap are then deformed to produce an'interlocking joint through the operation of certain mechanism carried by a movable head 59 comprising a pair-of at plates 60, spaced apart in vertical planes, and having their rear ends pivotally mounted upon the shaft 5I as shown in Fig. 7. One plate 601s maintained in frictional engagement with the side of the bearing hub 52 by means of a coil spring 6I which is mounted on the shaft 5I against the last mentioned plate 60 and with the other end bearing against a collar 62 which is secured against endwise movement on the shaft 5I by means of a transverse pin 63. The other plate 60 is maintained against the bearing hub 5 3 by means of a plate 64 which is secured to the base plate I5 by means of a screw 65. These plates 60 have mounted between the enlarged forward ends thereof a pair of crimping jaws 66 which'are mounted upon a common tending between the plates and which have their arms Iiif.L extending upwardly with their upper extremities pivotally connected by pins 68 with the upwardly and inwardly inclined links 69, as shown particularly in Fig. 16. The other extremities of these links 69 are connected by pins 1II with spaced points on the lower portion 1I* of an operating lever 1I which is pivotaliy mounted upon a pin 12 extending between the plates 69. I'his lever 1I extends upwardly, when the head 59 is in its normal upper position, as shown in Figs. 9 and 14 and, when the operator wishes to move the head 59 downwardly that movement is first eiected by thrusting on the lever 1I, while maintaining itv in its upright position and then, the lever 1I may be turned about the pivot 12 for the purpose of actuating the links 69 and thereby moving the jaws 66 toward each other to effect the crimping and shearing of the strap ends as hereinafter more fully described. The extent to which this pivotal movement of the lever II may be carried is limited by means of a stop member 13 which threadedly engages the lever 1I, being lines in Fig. 7 to held in adjusted position by means of a lock nutV 14. 'I'he extremity of this adjusting member is adapted to bear against one of the links 69 when lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 16, thus preventing further movement of the jaws 66 toward each other. By adjusting the position of the stop member 18 the minimum separation of the jaws may be varied as desired. 'I'he initial downward movement of the head 59 is utilized to effect the cutting 011` of the strap from the source of supply. The cutting of the with one end bearing pivot 61 exstrap is effected by acutting lever 15 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 'I6 secured in one oi' the retaining members 34 previously referred to. As shown portion I2b of the strap and cut it oir by coaction with the stationary die 19, as shown in Fig. 13.

axis of movement of the head 59. As a result of 35 this arrangement, when the operator pushes downwardly on the lever 1I with this lever ex- I tending in an upward inclined position, as shown the curved face 64b of the stationary plate so that the links may then separate from each other to- Fig. 16. The lever 1I strap will overlie the so that when these overlapping portions are forced together and are then operated upon to deform them into interlocking relation. Owing to the frictional engagement of the plate 60 with the bearing hubs 54 and 53, the head 59 is adapted to maintain any position in which it may be put unless it is positively moved therefrom.

Referring now to the means for crimping and shearing the edges of the overlapping portions of the strap to form an interlocking joint, it will be seen upon referring to Figs. 16, 17, and 18 that each jaw comprises a pair of side plates 85, a. center plate 86 and two intermediate plates 81, each of the latter plates being interposed between the center plate and one of the side plates. These plates are secured together by rivets 88 and the 75 intermediate plates have parts 81b extended inwardly and milled oi on one side to intert with the corresponding parts of the opposite plates and to receive the pin 81 about which the jaws have pivotal movemen The intermediate plates 81 have other parts 81 thereof extended upwardly to form the arms 66 of the jaws which are connected to the links 69. The lower strap engaging portions of the jaws beneath the pivotal axis 61, are provided with parts adapted to receive and operate upon the overlapping ends of the strap I2. For this purpose the edges of the plates 85 of each jaw are provided with notches 85B of rectangular cross section extending inwardly from the upright face of the jaw and similar notches 86a of rectangular cross section extend inwardly from the edges of the center plate 85. The notch in each center plate registers with the notches 85a in the plate 85 of the same jaw and the notches in the plates of one jaw are disposed oppositely to the notches in the plates Vof the other jaw so that they register with eachother when the jaws are closed upon each other as shown in Fig. 16. The intermediate plates 81 are provided with notches 81 which are of curved cross section and which register partially with the notches 85a and 86a of the respective jaws. The notches 81, however, are of larger vertical dimensions and project below the openings of the notches 85 and 86S, as shown in Fig. 18. The side plates 68 of the head 59 are cut away as shown at 60?a so that when the head 59 is lowered the openings tilla are adapted to receive the overlapping ends of the strap and to hold these overlapping ends in a position wherein-they may be engaged by the notches of the jaws when these jaws are closed upon them by the movement of the lever 1I. A flange 98 projects forwardly from the base I5 to support'the extreme end of the portion |28 of the strap and the side plates 60 of the head are adapted to engage the upper portion of the strap and to bring the two parts of the strap into close overlapping relation with each other with parts of the strap on opposite sides of the head supported from below by the flanges I6 and 90. The base I5 is further provided with a curved recess 9i extending inwa dly from the space between the flanges I6 a 98 to accommodate the lower portions of the Fig. 16. The vertical dimensions of the recesses 85S and 86 are such that they are closely iitted by the overlapping strap ends and the depth of the recesses is such that they are completely occupied by the strap ends when the two jaws are closed upon each other, as shown in Fig. 16. The flat surfaces of the walls of these notches hold the strap ends in a flat condition while the portions of the strap between the plates 85 and the center plate 86 are curled or beaded due to the action of the curved notches 81 which are formed in the plates 81. The side plates 8 5 and the center plate 86 serve to hold the strap in such a position that the plates 81 will always 'curl or crimp the edges of the strap in the same direction. The notches 85 and 86 also serve to center the strap ends so that they receive the same amount of curling or beading along each edge thereof. The plates 85 and 86 also act as shearing dies to cooperate with the plates 81 in shearing the overlapping portions of the strap at the ends of the curled or beaded portions.

The action of these jaws 5S upon the overlapping ends of the strap is illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, where the joint formed by the device is illustrated. As shown in these :aws 65, as shown particularly in.

' The beads or rolls 95 may vfurther prevented by the shearing figures, the joint 95 comprises the two overlapping strap ends IZB and I2b which are deformed so that there is an intermediate flat portion 95, two end portions 95b and two intermediate pairs of rolls or beads 95 which form indentations in the sides of the strap represented at 95d in Fig. 2. be of more or less complete circular cross section depending upon the formation of the recesses or notches 81 in the plates 81 and they have a telescoping engagement with each other so that they eiectively prevent separation of the overlapping strap ends in any direction transverse to the length of the strap. These beads or rolls also have a longitudinal curvature, diverging away from each other on opposite sides of the strap ends so that they prevent relative longitudinal movement of the strap ends, but this relative longitudinal movement is of the edges of the strap ends to form inwardly extending cuts 95 at each end of each of the beads. These cuts are formed by the cutting edges 81D of the plates 81 which act as cutting dies so that when they engage the edges of the strap the edges of the strap are sheared at the same time that the portions of the strap between the cuts or shears are turned inwardly to form the beads 95. These cuts 95 provide shoulders which coactvwith the transversely extending shoulders on the ends of the beads to prevent any possible relative endwise movement of the two overlapping strap ends. As a result of the curling and shearing of the strap ends they are bowed upwardly to a slight extent in the region of the joint, as shown in Fig. 4. In this way an effective joint is obtained without the use of any enclosing sleeve or seal such as has heretofore been employed with many forms of sealing devices. The form of seal or joint hereinabove described is claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 592,051, filed February l0, 1932.-

' In the operation of the device, the base plate i5 is seated upon the surface of the box or package about which the strap I2 is to be secured, as shown in Fig. l. The free end of the strap is then placed beneath the gripping dog I8 on the flange i6 with the extremity thereof extending over the opening between the ange I6 and the ange 58. Then, after passing the strap around the box or package, the supply portion i2b thereof is inserted beneath the gripping dog 26 on the flange 21 of the movable block 21, from which point the supply portion of the strap extends above the free end of the strap and through the slot I8b of the gripping dog I8 where it is held in place by the springpressed ball 25. The parts are then in readiness for drawing the strap taut, which is eiected by moving the lever 50 in a rearward direction, as shown in Fig. 14, thereby causing a forward movement of the hollow link 45 with a resulting forward motion of the rear end of the lever 5l to which motion is imparted through the spring 56. As the lever 4I moves forwardly, its forward end swings toward the left, as viewed in Fig. '1, thereby actuating the sliding bar 28 upon which the block 21 is mounted. The movement of the block 21 carries with it the gripping dog 26 and flange 21a between which the supply portion of the strap ls gripped so that the strap is thereby drawn taut around the package. When a predetermined degree of tautness is attained, the coil spring t6 within the hollow link is further compressed so that further movement of the lever 50 and hollow link 45 will not eiect any further tightening of the strap. The movable head 59 is then swung while retaining the lever 1I in'its upright -posithe result that the jaws tion. The initial motion of the head 59 is adapted to cut oiT the strap from the. source of supply due to the actuation of the cutting lever 15 which engages the supply portion of the strap seated on the ilange 19. The cut-off end of the strap is,then pressed downwardly against the free end whichrests upon the flanges I6 and 90' andv these overlapping ends then enter the notches 60* in the side plates 60 ofthe head, as the downward motion of the head is continued. The lever 'H is then swung forwar about its pivot 'l2 with 66 are actuated to form telescoping beads along the edges of the overlapping portions of the strap at points which are spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 4, while at the same time shearing the lateral edges of the strap ends, as shown at 95, to insure further the security of the interlocking joint.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 'I'he combination in a strap sealing device of means for supporting a strap with its ends overlapped, and means for engaging said overlapped ends and rolling them transversely to form a plurality of pairs of telescoping beads along the edges of the strap, said last named means comprising parts for shearing the overlapped ends of the strap transversely thereof at the ends of said beads.

2. The combination in a strap stretching and sealing device, of means for drawing a strap taut around a package with its ends overlapping, means for cutting oi the strap from the source of supply, and means for rolling the edges of the overlapped portions of the strap and shearing said portions transversely to form telescoping beaded portions along the edges of said overlapped portions and transversely extending shoulders interlocking with each other.

3. The combination in a sealing device of a base plate, means for holding a strap on said base plate with the en s thereof overlapping, a head mounted on sair ase plate for movement transversely of said strap, strap deforxning means carried by said head, means for effecting movement of said head, and means for frictionally holding said head in a predetermined position.

4. The combination in a strap sealing device of a base plate, means carried by said plate for holding a strap with the ends thereof overlapping, means carried by said plate for engaging said overlapping ends and forming a plurality of pairs of beads along the opposite edges thereof, and means for operating said bead forming means, said bead forming means including means for shearing said overlapping ends transversely to form interlocking shoulders.

5. 'I'he combination in a strap sealing device of a base plate, means carried by said plate for holding a strap with the ends thereof overlapping, means carried ny said plate for engaging said overlapping ends and forming a plurality of pairs of beads along the opposite edges thereof,`

and means for operating said bead forming means, said bead forming means including means for preventing the bending of the overlapping portions of the strap between the 4portions on which said beads are formed.

6. The combination in a strap sealing device of a base plate, means carried by said plate for holding a strap with the ends thereof overlapping, a pair oi' relatively movable jaws adapted to engage opposite sides of said overlapping ends, and means for actuating said jaws, said jaws comprising partsadapted to hold portions of the overlapping ends against transverse bending and Aother parts adapted to bend intermediate por- 4 tions of said overlapping ends to form beads at the edges oi' said strap.

7. The combination' in a strap sealing device vof a base plate, means carried by said plate for holding a strap with the ends thereof overlapping, a pair of relatively movable jaws adapted to engage opposite sides of said overlapping ends,

and means for actuating said jaws, said jaws comprising parts adapted to hold portions of the overlapping ends against transverse bending and other parts adapted to bend intermediate4 portions of said overlapping ends to form beads at the edges oi said strap, said jaws being further provided with parts adapted to serve as shearing dies to cut said strap transversely and form interlocking shoulders on said overlapping ends.

8. The combination in a strap sealing device of a base plate. means for holding a strap with the ends thereof overlapping, a pivotally mounted head carried by said plate, a pair of relatively movable jaws mounted on said head, means comprising an operating handle for eiecting relative movement of said jaws to engage and deform the edges of said overlapping ends of saidstrap, and means for varying the extent of` relative movement of said jaws.

9. The combination 'in a strap-sealing device of a pair of relatively movable jaws adapted to engage apposite sides of the overlapping ends of alstrap and means for eiecting relative movement of said jaws, each of said jaws comprising a plurality of plates securedtogether, said plates having notches therein to receive the edges of said strap ends,

an interlocking joint.

10. The combination in a stra sealing device, of a pair of relatively movable jaws adapted to engage opposite edges of the overlapping ends of a strap, and means for eifecting relative movement of said jaws, each of said jaws having die portions adapted to bend edge portions of said overlapping strap ends and also having other portions located adjacent to but displaced 1ongitudinally of the strap ends with respect to said die portions opposite flat surfaces of the strap ends to engage and hold the said overlapping ystrap ends to cause said edge portions of said strap ends to be bent in a predetermined direction by said die portions.

l1. The combination in a4 strap sealing device, of a pair of relatively movable jaws adapted to engage opposite edges of the overlapping ends of a strap, and means for effecting relative movement of said jaws, each of said jaws having a curved die portion adapted to bend and curl edge portions of said overlapping strap ends and also having a portion abutting said die portion and provided with a notch adapted to engage the edge portions of said strap ends adjacent said die portion to cause the strap edges to engage said die portion at a on its curve so that edge portions of the strap ends are curled in a predetermined manner.

12. The combination in a strap sealing deand shaped to it over the predetermined point vice, of a pair of relatively movable -jaws adapted to engage opposite edges of the overlappinglends of a fiat strap, and means for eecting relative movement of said jaws, said jaws having op a ite curved die portions adapted to engage and curl -opposite edge portions of said overlapping strapends, said jaws also having opposite notches adapted to fit over the outer parallel ats'ides of said overlapping strap ends at points adjacent to but displaced longitudinally o the strap ends from said die portions f'or holding said strap Sends at said points while they are being curled by said die portions. l

e 13. The combination "in a strap sealing de= '15 vice, of a pair of relatively movable Jaws adaptedv to engage opposite edges of the overlapping ends p of a flat strap, and means for eectina relative movement of said jaws, said jaws having opposite.

curved die portions adapted to engage and curl opposite edge portions of said overlapping strap ends, said Jaws also having opposite parallel sided notches adapted to t over the outer parallel fiat "sides of said overlapping strap ends at points on C. CHESS.

from the planes of said 

